Ways to Ensure a Great Family Portrait

Often it can be a real pain to try and get the family all together in Brisbane for a family portrait. But to some people it is very important to document their family in every stage of their lives. If you can get them to finally all to agree to doing this, there are ways in which you can make the experience a positive one.

A good thing to always remember is to schedule your family portrait appointment in Brisbane when the kids are in a happy mood. For the younger ones this usually means that early evening from 5 to 6 pm is not a good time. It is best to find a photographer who is willing to work around the schedule of your childrens' routines.

Lighting is usually very important so the high noon light generally isn't good and photographers usually prefer early morning or at dusk, which means you need to make sure that the kid's schedules are flexible for that day.

If you can't afford a professional photo shoot because it won't fit your budget, look for ads in Brisbane for photographers that are just starting up and are looking for a way to expand their professional portfolio. You might find someone who is offering a great deal. Also ask at church, the local college or friends if they know of someone who is in need of business and doesn't charge an arm and a leg for their service.

It is always a good idea to buy a package deal that will give you all the digital files for just one flat rate. In the long run this will work out better because you then have control over the printing of the photos. It might cost a little more up front but will save you in printing costs in the end.

As tempting as it might be for everyone to wear the same thing for the family portrait, it really isn't the best thing to do. Photos do look a lot better when family members blend well but not exact. So make sure that people are wearing similar colors but not totally identical clothing.

Try to avoid from letting family members wear really intricate patterned clothing, simple stripes or a basic design is OK, but patterns that are over the top have a tenancy to take away from the faces in the portrait.

Try to keep the clothing casual, especially if you have young children. If they aren't comfortable in their clothes then they aren't going to be relaxed and it's going to show in your family portrait. If they aren't comfortable you are going to have a harder time than usual keeping them sitting still.

The background of your photo is not the most important part of the photo so keep your location or background simple. Even though there are a lot of pretty city parks, if you have a backyard, don't forget to consider having your family portrait taken there. This would probably make the kids happier and less distracted. Other places to consider would be front porches, fences and even old buildings.